Asthma doesn’t stop elite athletes. So why should it stop you?
With the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro underway, it might surprise you to know that asthma is fairly common among Olympic athletes, particularly swimmers, cyclists and long-distance runners. Gold-winners with asthma include track and field athletes Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Jeanette Bolden; swimmers Tom Dolan, Nancy Hogshead-Makar, Amy Van Dyken and Peter Vanderkaay; and tennis player Justine Henin. Other Rio athletes with asthma include swimmer Kelsi Worrell and cyclist Laura Trott.
Approximately 8 percent of Olympians who competed in the five Summer and Winter Olympic Games between 2002 and 2010 were diagnosed with asthma, making it the most common chronic condition among Olympic athletes, according to a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
[See: Here’s How Many Calories 6 Summer Olympic Sports Burn.]
And with NFL preseason underway in the U.S., it might surprise you to learn that many former and current pro football players have asthma — from Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis to Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy.
Why is asthma and exercise-induced asthma (also referred to as EIA or EIB, which stands for exercise-induced bronchospasm) common among elite athletes? It could be connected to long, intense training and the very high airflow rates they need to compete in sports.
Not all of us are born elite athletes, of course, but being active is important, especially for children with asthma. Studies show regular exercise can reduce asthma symptoms in the long term. It can also help relieve anxiety and stress that can trigger asthma flares.
Ninety percent of people with asthma also have EIA, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Not everyone with EIA experiences asthma symptoms outside of exercise, though.
Exercise-related asthma symptoms occur when high airflow rates from physical exertion cause lung inflammation and airway muscle spasms and bronchoconstriction. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and extreme fatigue.
[See: 8 Surprising Facts About Asthma and Seasonal Allergies.]
Since most people breathe through their mouth when exercising, dry air is a common trigger. So are extremely hot and cold temperatures. Outdoor allergens (pollen, mold) and irritants (air pollution, smog) can also lead to symptoms.
Asthma and EIA management and treatment are the same for elite athletes as they are for everyone else with the condition.
If you or your child experiences breathing problems during or after any exercise, see a board-certified allergist for a complete diagnosis. Work together with your allergist to develop an Asthma Action Plan that spells out steps to take to avoid symptoms, such as:
1. Use a prescribed quick-relief bronchodilator inhaler 15 to 30 minutes before exercise and if symptoms occur during or after exercise. This medication can reduce the chances for airway constriction and prevent symptoms for 2 to 4 hours. Keep the inhaler with you as you exercise.
2. Warm up at least 15 to 20 minutes beforehand to prime the airways for physical exertion. Warm-up activities can include stretching or light jogging.
3. Breathe through the nose as much as possible, as nasal passages warm the air and add moisture before it can reach the lungs. If you breathe through the mouth, dry air — as well as allergens and irritants — can reach the lungs more easily. When it’s cold outside, wear a scarf over the mouth and nose to help warm inhaled air.
4. Stay hydrated during exercise to help keep airways from drying out.
5. Cool down by slowly walking and stretching for 5 to 10 minutes. This will decrease chances of developing post-exercise airway muscle spasms.
People with asthma may also be prescribed a long-acting daily medication such as an inhaled corticosteroid. This medication can help control asthma over a 12-hour period of time by calming inflamed airways and preventing symptoms. Those with EIA only may not need to take long-acting medications.
[See: 7 Lifestyle Tips to Manage Your Asthma.]
Since many people with asthma also have allergies, your allergist may recommend you undergo allergy testing to find out if outdoor allergens are causing symptoms — and impacting your ability to exercise. This way you can take steps to reduce exposure.
With the right management plan and treatment, most people with asthma — whether an elite athlete or someone exercising for fun — can be as active as they want.
Purvi Parikh, MD, is a board-certified allergist and immunologist with Allergy & Asthma Network, a leading nonprofit patient education organization for people with allergies, asthma and related conditions. She practices in New York City at Allergy and Asthma Associates of Murray Hill and New York University School of Medicine and sits on the Board of Directors for the advocacy council of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
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Asthma and Exercise: How to Reach Your Full Potential originally appeared on usnews.com
